title: Patient perceptions of nonmelanoma skin cancer before diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a paucity of data regarding patient perceptions of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe patients' perceptions of skin lesions before a diagnosis of NMSC.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive study in a private practice setting. Patients with a previous biopsy of NMSC who presented for treatment were eligible. A self-administered questionnaire assessed what patient perceptions of lesions diagnosed as NMSCs had been before they were aware of the diagnosis. Medical records were reviewed for tumor type, size, and location.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred sixty-three consecutive patients undergoing treatment for NMSC completed the questionnaire. The most common initial impressions of the lesion were skin cancer (20%), acne (19%), sore (10%), unknown (9%), dry skin (7%), age spot (6%), and injury (6%). Seventy-two percent of patients were the first to notice the lesion. Patients with a history of skin cancer were more likely to think the lesion was a skin cancer on initial impression (28% vs. 8%) (p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding how patients perceive their skin cancers may aid in targeting educational strategies and increase awareness of skin cancer risk. Our data suggest that there are important subtleties in self-identification that may need to be taken into consideration in any educational campaign targeting NMSC.
authors.affiliation: David Becker, MD, PC, New York, New York; Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yancovitz
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Julian
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Oliveria
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010465:Perception; D012008:Recurrence; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors